Open systems software definition

Open systems software allows different vendors, and or platforms, to coexist into one hardware
or software (Techopedia, Inc, 2019). This allows multiple outside company’s programs to be
available for download on one’s computer. Which can allow a multitude of programs to be
installed. According to TechTarget, open systems allows “interoperability, which allows the
system to function with other systems” (TechTarget, 2019).

Article Abstract: SOSA promoting open-systems standards for military embedded computing by
John Keller

This article is taking a closer look into how SOSA or, Sensor Open Systems Architecture,
will be helping the United States military. Keller begins by stating how SOSA will be an instant
help to the United States military. SOSA has the potential to help cut costs by turning long term
projects into short term. There is also an upside in increased quality of the current and future
products on the market. To make that point, designers will be able to create systems, while also
creating advancements on current systems. The military adding SOSA to their system will allow
more companies to be compatible with the systems that are in place. Currently, the military
computer systems operate under OpenVPX standards of the VITA open standards. However, this
will not change as the deal with SOSA comes to fruition in Spring of this year. The SOSA
standard will be emerging, not as a challenging standard, but as an enhancer to the standards
already in place. All new and existing system standards will be guided by Modular Open Systems
Approach (MOSA) project, including SOSA allowing everything to be uniform. In the article
John states, “SOSA standard…. has the potential to sharpen the OpenVPX standards such that
these standards promote true interoperability among third-party suppliers, help prevent vendor
lock, and affordable systems development in a relatively short period of time” (Keller, 2019).
U.S. secretaries of the Army, Navy, and Air Force gave a thumbs up for SOSA, saying the
system needs to be used to the “maximum extent” (Keller, 2019).

References
Keller, J. (2019 January 29). SOSA promoting open-systems standards for military embedded
computing. Retrieved from https://www.militaryaerospace.com/articles/2019/01/sosa-
open-systems-standards-embedded-computing.html
Techopedia, Inc. (2019). Definition-What does open system mean. Retrieved from
https://www.techopedia.com/definition/21204/open-system
TechTarget. (2019). Definition open system. Retrieved from
https://whatis.techtarget.com/definition/open-system